How is Wintergrazer 70 rye? Introducing the Winter Star variety

Introduced from the United States in the 1970s. Its characteristics include many tillers, fast growth, strong cold resistance, high fresh grass yield, and good quality. It is suitable for planting in areas east of Yinchuan and Guiyang, south of Beijing, and north of the Nanling Mountains.

[Botanical characteristics]

Wintergrazer 70 rye is an annual or winter-annual herb of the genus Secale in the grass family. Plant height 150-180 cm. Stem diameter 1-1.5 cm, 5-6 nodes, lower internodes short, not prone to lodging. Fibrous roots well developed, penetrating about 1 m into the soil. Many tillers, good regrowth, soft, green, seedlings tinged purple or brown, forming 2 rows at the mature seedling stage, constituting a four-angled shape, glumes narrow and long, the outer glume keel with cilia, the tip with an awn. The caryopsis is slender and ovate, red-brown or dark brown, slightly lighter than @#@245@#@ seed, 1000-grain weight about 25 g,

[Biological characteristics]

Wintergrazer 70 rye is a thermophilic and cold-tolerant crop with strong adaptability, growing well in both temperate and cold-temperate zones. The minimum temperature for seed germination is 0.5-2.5°C, and at around 20°C seedlings can emerge in 4-5 days. After autumn sowing, tillering occurs rapidly as the temperature drops, and it can grow slowly in winter. It can be sown from late August to December; if sown in late September, it can be cut once in early November. When the temperature stabilizes at 3-5°C, it begins to turn green. In the Huang-Huai region and the Yangtze River basin, fields with sufficient water and fertilizer can harvest 5000-7000 kg of fresh grass per mu, or even up to 10000 kg. It is currently a winter-type variety suitable for promotion; if rotated with American pearl millet or intercropped with perennial forage grasses, it can ensure a supply of fresh grass the following year.

Wintergrazer 70 rye needs more water, but is also relatively drought-tolerant. It has strong waterlogging resistance. It is not strict about soil requirements; it grows poorly on heavy clay and strongly alkaline soils, and is most suitable for clay soils and sandy loam soils rich in organic matter, and can also grow on acidic soils.

[Cultivation techniques]

1. Land preparation and fertilization: The best preceding crops for Wintergrazer 70 rye are soybean, corn, etc. It is vigorous and has few pests and diseases; in fields with good land preparation and sufficient fertilization, it can also be continuously cropped, and it is also a good preceding crop for many other autumn-maturing crops. It requires flat terrain and loose soil. Plow to a depth of about 20 cm, then harrow and press in time to preserve soil moisture, and complete supporting field projects so that irrigation is possible in drought and drainage is possible in waterlogging.

Wintergrazer 70 rye likes fertilizer and requires an adequate supply of nitrogen fertilizer. With insufficient nitrogen fertilizer, growth is poor and both yield and quality decline. Fertilization is mainly basal fertilizer, applying 1500-2000 kg of barnyard manure per mu before plowing. Topdressing is mainly with quick-acting fertilizers; apply 10-20 kg of urea at the seedling stage, and after each cutting, topdress and irrigate immediately.

2. Sowing: Sowing at the right time is the guarantee for obtaining high yields of Wintergrazer 70 rye. In the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the sowing period is August to October. In the Huang-Huai-Hai region, mainly after corn or soybean, the sowing period is from mid-to-late September to before mid-October. It can also be sown after rice, but the sowing period is later, affecting the yield before the Spring Festival.

Wintergrazer 70 rye is sown just like wheat; it can be drilled with a seeder or broadcast. For drilling, the row spacing is 15-20 cm. The seeding rate is 5-8 kg; for early sowing and fertile soil, sow less, and for late sowing and poorer soil fertility, sow more. After sowing, cover with soil 2-3 cm and press to preserve moisture.

3. Field management: Wintergrazer 70 rye has many tillers and grows fast, which helps suppress weeds, so generally no weeding is needed. Where fertilizer and water are insufficient and growth is poor, topdress in time. In drought, water once before overwintering. If aphids are found, control them promptly. If waterlogging occurs, drain promptly.

[Feeding value]

Wintergrazer 70 rye has high yield and contains abundant nutrients, making it an excellent winter forage. Hay contains 13% crude protein, 3.29% crude fat, 31.36% crude fiber, 41.09% nitrogen-free extract, 7.46% crude ash, 0.5% calcium, and 0.3% phosphorus. When it grows to more than 20 cm, it can be cut 4-6 times; the fresh grass yield is related to sowing time and water and fertilizer conditions. Fresh grass can be fed directly to cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and other livestock; poultry and herbivorous fish all like to eat it, and it can also be ensiled.